Differental Equation Question, Particular Solutions?

  • Context: MHB 
  • Thread starter Thread starter stripedcat
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on solving the differential equation dy/dx = x^2 + x^2y with the initial condition y(1) = 2. Participants confirm the integration steps leading to the general solution y = Ae^(x^3/3) - 1, where A is a constant. The correct approach involves substituting the initial condition into the equation to solve for A, resulting in A ≈ 2.1496. The final expression for y is confirmed as y = 1.3956e^(x^3/3) - 1.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of first-order differential equations
  • Knowledge of integration techniques
  • Familiarity with initial value problems
  • Basic logarithmic and exponential functions
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the method of integrating factors for solving differential equations
  • Learn about the existence and uniqueness theorem for initial value problems
  • Explore applications of differential equations in modeling real-world phenomena
  • Investigate numerical methods for approximating solutions to differential equations
USEFUL FOR

Students of mathematics, educators teaching differential equations, and anyone seeking to understand the application of initial conditions in solving differential equations.

stripedcat
Messages
44
Reaction score
0
[math]dy/dx = x^2+x^2y, y(1)=2[/math]

I'm not sure what to do with the y(1)=2, presumably I want to do the equation and then find y and c?

[math]dy/dx=x^2(y+1)[/math]

[math]dy/y+1=x^2 dx[/math]

[math] ln(y+1)=x^3/3+C[/math]

[math]y=e^{x^3/3} - 1 + C[/math]

I'm assuming I did this part right?

I just plug in 2 where the y is and I where the x is, then solve for y and c? Is that how it works?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Re: Differiental Equation Question, Particular Solutions?

stripedcat said:
[math]dy/dx = x^2+x^2y, y(1)=2[/math]

I'm not sure what to do with the y(1)=2, presumably I want to do the equation and then find y and c?

[math]dy/dx=x^2(y+1)[/math]

[math]dy/y+1=x^2 dx[/math]

[math] ln(y+1)=x^3/3+C[/math]

Correct so far.
[math]y=e^{x^3/3} - 1 + C[/math]
This should be $y=Ae^{x^3/3}-1$ where $A$ is some constant.

Now just use the initial condition to determine $A$.
 
Re: Differiental Equation Question, Particular Solutions?

Pranav said:
Correct so far.

This should be $y=Ae^{x^3/3}-1$ where $A$ is some constant.

Now just use the initial condition to determine $A$.

So like this...?

[math]2=Ce^{1^3/3}-1[/math]

Solve for C

[math]e^{1/3} = 1.3956[/math]

[math]2=C(1.3956)-1[/math]

[math]3=C(1.39561)[/math]

C=~2.1496

Now that I have C...

[math]y=(2.1496)(1.3956)-1[/math]

y=-0.24601?
 
Last edited:
Re: Differiental Equation Question, Particular Solutions?

stripedcat said:
So like this...?

[math]2=Ce^{1^3/3}[/math]

Shouldn't that be $3=Ce^{1/3}$?
 
Re: Differiental Equation Question, Particular Solutions?

Pranav said:
Shouldn't that be $3=Ce^{1/3}$?

Forgot the -1

But beyond that did I plug in the values like I was suppose to?
 
Re: Differiental Equation Question, Particular Solutions?

stripedcat said:
Now that I have C...

[math]y=(2.1496)(1.3956)-1[/math]

y=-0.24601?

Any reason to replace $e^{x^3/3}$ with $1.3956$? You got $C$ in a correct way, so the final answer is $y=1.3956e^{x^3/3}-1$, do you see why?
 
Re: Differiental Equation Question, Particular Solutions?

So I got C, that's good then! Thank you!

Do we not plug in the previous X value when trying to solve for Y? I was wondering about that, it didn't seem right, but then by not including it I didn't see how to solve for Y without it being an abstract answer rather than a specific one.

So it's just the [math]y=e^{x^3/3} -1[/math] for y then. Okay.
 
Re: Differiental Equation Question, Particular Solutions?

stripedcat said:
Do we not plug in the previous X value when trying to solve for Y? I was wondering about that, it didn't seem right, but then by not including it I didn't see how to solve for Y without it being an abstract answer rather than a specific one.
I am not sure what you ask here. The condition $y(1)=2$ was given to determine $A$. $y(1)=2$ means that at $x=1$, $y=2$, so you plug in these values of $x$ and $y$ and find $A$.
So it's just the [math]y=e^{x^3/3} -1[/math] for y then. Okay.

No, look at my previous post.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K